February is Black History Month. But while you might hear about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or even Malcolm X, one predominantly African American group that fought for equal rights and justice is discussed much then, or during the rest of the year for that matter. The organization in question is MOVE. No, the name is not an acronym, it’s more of an affirmation, a statement and a battle cry.
The Philadelphia-based liberation group was founded by a man who went by the name John Africa. Though the group began coming together in the early 70s, the loose-knit organization became a household name in Philadelphia by the 80s.
The group was predominantly African American, but there were more than few Caucasians directly involved as well.
Most regarded MOVE as a “back to Nature” group, and that probably wouldn’t be an unfair characterization. MOVE could be seen at organizations throughout the Philadelphia, protesting everything from police brutality to animal captivity in zoos.
The group was loud and to many in the Philly area, a mere annoyance. They often held signs that had “curse words” and could be heard at protests acting in a way that stood in stark contrast to the modus operandi that America – and the police – had come to expect from protesters.
By the time their Cobbs Creek, West Philadelphia house came under attack by police on May 13th, 1985 it became clear that the group was more than eccentric rebels: they were revolutionaries, intent on standing their ground against illegal police aggression.
As early as 1977, MOVE members stood on their Powelton Village porch wearing military uniforms and open carrying firearms in response to an order to vacate the premises.
This stand-off went on for 14 months, and ended on August 8th, 1978 with a shootout which claimed the life of a police officer who opened fire on MOVE members. Nine MOVE members were sent to prison. The home was bulldozed and the the group relocated to the Cobbs Creek home which would eventually become the grave of many of them.
On March 13th, the group got in an armed standoff with the Philadelphia Police Department. The police pulled out all of the stops, dropping 32 lbs of C4 explosives and Tovex dynamite substitute on the roof of the MOVE home.
Five children were burned alive by the Philadelphia police, along with 6 adults. The fire the police started destroyed 61 other houses, resulting in 240 people becoming homeless.
A Federal jury found eventually ruled that Police Commissioner Gregore J. Sambor as well as Fire Commissioner William C. Richmond made a calculated decision to let the fire burn for an hour.
Survivors Ramona Africa and Birdie Africa were later awarded $1.5 million in civil damages, in a lawsuit that found the City of Philadelphia responsible for the bombing and fire that ended those 11 lives that day.
Below you can see a video of Ramona Africa from a few years ago speaking with Philadelphia TV’s current affairs host Art Fennell, discussing what happened…
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people have the right to defend themselves when attacked – no matter who
attacks them. The 1980s were a different time. Few spoke up for MOVE
after the bombing that claimed those lives. But it is never too late for
us to demand justice and police accountability now!
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